Tianyi Zhang

Tianyi Zhang, MD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine, affiliated with the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences. Her academic position focuses on the intersection of psychiatry, law, and vulnerable populations.

Dr. Zhang's research spans multiple critical areas in forensic psychiatry and public health. Her primary interests include elder abuse prevention in digital contexts, expert testimony standards in human trafficking cases, and healthcare access for incarcerated populations. She has conducted significant research on long-acting reversible contraceptives for incarcerated women and investigated immunological responses to tuberculosis infections.

Her publication record demonstrates a clear trajectory from infectious disease research toward forensic psychiatry applications, with recent work focusing on contemporary challenges like digital financial exploitation of elderly individuals and legal frameworks for sex trafficking cases. This evolution reflects her commitment to addressing emerging public health challenges through clinical and legal frameworks.

Dr. Zhang collaborates extensively with colleagues across UCSF, including Vivek Datta, Andrea Jackson, Dale McNiel, and Nathaniel Morris, forming a research network focused on vulnerable populations and legal psychiatry applications.

Her clinical and research activities demonstrate strong connections to prison healthcare systems, elder protection services, and reproductive health advocacy, with particular attention to San Francisco-based populations and broader California policy implications.